Mocking The Draft Live Draft Recap: Seahawks Edition

If any of you have been to http://www.mockingthedraft.com/, you know how great the site is.  If you haven't, get there as quickly as possible.

In fact....go there now.  Then come back and read the rest of this post.

Done?  OK...good.

Every year at this time they run a live mock draft with readers participating as the General Managers of their favorite teams.  I got to represent the Seahawks last weekend and let me tell you, the experience exceeded my expectations.  I can't say enough about the knowledge and preparation level of the guys who pitched in.  Every one of them knew their teams needs intimately, and had such a deep familiarity with the draft pool that we ended up taking the thing to it's full 7-round conclusion. 

Here's how it worked:

• A commissioner ran the thread, so there was a strict time limit on all picks. 
• Trades could be made, and they had to match up within a certain limit according to the actual Trade Value Chart that the NFL uses. 
• Current players could not be traded.

I thought it would be cool to show you how things worked out for the Seahawks.  We had 7 total picks after losing a couple in trades (a 5th for Lynch and a 7th for Polumbus), and getting a couple back (a 7th for Curry, and another 7th as a compensatory pick.) 

Here's what I ended up with:

1)    Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
***Traded down in the second from #43 to #60, picking up an extra third in the process.
2)    Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
3a)  Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
3b)  Shea McClellin, OLB/DE, Boise State
4)    Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
***Traded our 6th and one of the 7ths to move back into the 5th round.
5)    Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
6)    No selection
7)    Chase Ford, TE, Miami


The way this draft fell, I got 4 of my favorite players with my first four picks.  Upshaw is simply the perfect fit for the Hawks scheme and needs, and reportedly a guy that Carroll has already expressed his love for.  He can play OLB or rush-end on passing downs.  He's physical, violent, and relentless.  He would start from day #1 and be a 3-down player.  Jones is a bit raw, and there are some questions about his durability, but he's drawn some athletic comparisons to Pierre-Paul of the Giants.  He's long and quick and can get after the passer.

If you've read my blog before, you know how I feel about Osweiler.  While I LOVE that I was able to get him in the third round here, I've been saying for a month that he's going to wind up going in the first round by the time the draft rolls around, so this is an unrealistic scenario.  But it's fun to dream right?

I loved getting McClellin in the third as well, but I think he's also going to be drafted well ahead of this come April.  He's the kind of player coaches fall in love with.  He's physical, versatile, and has a motor that won't stop.  He stood out at the Senior Bowl, playing OLB exclusively for the first time.  If the Hawks could add Upshaw, Jones and McClellin to the front-7 core they already have, we would be looking at the next step forward in a potentially dominant young defense for years to come. 

In the 4th I had my heart set on an outside receiver, and was hoping for Arizona's Juron Criner, but he was taken right in front of me, so I settled for Quick.  Another Senior Bowl standout, he's big, fast, and runs decent routes.  He had a couple of drops during Senior Bowl week, but his hand have been mostly consistent throughout his career.  With the uncertain durability of Rice and Williams, I can see the Hawks going receiver at some point in this draft.

Gray in the 5th was simply the best avaiable RB, but also a guy who is good between the tackles.  He's got a good size/speed combo who had some injuries early in his career but stood out at the East-West Shrine Game and catches the ball well out of the backfield. 

Ford also looked great in St. Petersburg.  He's tall, lanky, and has great hands.  Good straight-line speed, needs work as a blocker.  Solid 7th round value. 

So that's how it came out.  Tell me what you think.  They're going to run a couple more of these, and I'm hoping to get in on those as well. 

Also, look out for a full grade of this draft on http://www.nflmocks.com/.  The guys there have already broken down all the AFC efforts, in as much detail as you'll see from any of the draft experts after the REAL NFL Draft in April.  Pretty cool of those guys to do that.  NFC grades should be done as early as tomorrow.  I'm anxious to see what he thought of the Hawks draft.

Damn.... is it April yet?!?!?!?!

Pro Basketball still ALIVE in Seattle!

There are very promising talks of a new NBA and NHL arena being built here in Seattle! Info here http://www.king5.com/sports/sportspress-nw/139486828.html So you know what that means,?? YES!!! *leaps for joy* the Seattle SuperSonics could be back and hopefully back to stay! I for one am extremely happy that Seattle might get an NBA team back. I try to root for the Portland Trailblazers but it's not the same plus the Blazers were a rival team for the Sonics so it's hard to switch it up. Going from Hate to love for the Blazers is a hard thing to do lol just kidding!

  Anyone who lives in Seattle or has visited Seattle knows it's deserving of an NBA team and it's a great sports city in general! So getting a NBA team back would really be amazing and well deserving. But let's not forget the Sister team to the Sonics, The Seattle Storm. The Seattle Storm have kept professional  basketball relevant and alive in Seattle. The Storm are two time Champions with their most recent championship in 2010. The Storm have had to carry the load for the past three years and they have done an excellent job! The Storm are keeping professional basketball on going and exciting in Seattle, despite not having the brother Sonics to back them like most other WNBA teams. The Storm play an exciting brand of basketball. And yes they are the Sister/women team but people do care, love & go CRAZY for Storm basketball. The main stars for this team are of course Sue Bird and MVP Lauren Jackson. And as i noted before in a earlier blog Sue Bird is as clutch as they come and that's Men or Women. Sue is so clutch she continues to excite fans at key arena and Seattle in general. Here's some  evidence:  

  From this highlight you can see the Storm have been holding it down in Seattle. I know by this point some are saying Nobody really cares about the Storm. women's basketball or WNBA.

  Some people would say their interest for an NBA team has absolutely nothing to to do with the Seattle Storm because Nobody cares about them any way right??? I hear this all the time about the Seattle Storm Stuff Like who cares they're women , nobody cares about Women's basketball!! There championships aren't real championships!! They're boring to watch and I want to see some dunks. Yep I hear that more then anything else when it pertains to the Storm. (SHAMEFUL IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL/WINNING TEAM IN YOUR CITY JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE WOMEN!) Regardless to what people believe people do care about the Storm.

  For example when Storm played in the 2010 WNBA finals at the Key there was over fifteen thousands people at that game. The more awesomeness about that is it was also the season opener for our beloved Seattle Seahawks and both games started at the same time. Yep the Storm at the Key and the Hawks at Century Link field. What makes this so AMAZING is that it was Seahawks opening game of the season and we know how much anticipation comes with that VERY FIRST GAME and the Seattle Storm were still able to draw fifteen strong for the finals. While the Seattle Seahawks were playing right down the street Key Arena was packed live and electric with excited basketball fans.

  Big name NBA players were at the Storm game (not Seahawks) Players like Nate the great Robinson, Jamal Crawford and the Legend himself Bill Russel attended the Storm first game of the finals.

  I hope I have painted a picture as to how the Seattle Storm YES these women have represented professional basketball in Seattle.People should tell the Storm Thank You to the highest level and Sonics fans should show a little appreciation to the Seattle Storm.

  I know there are some basketball fans out there that don't know about the Seattle Storm and wouldn't link Sonics to the Storm but then there's others that every time they walk into Key arena to watch the Storm play it reminds them of the Sonics. Actually there's fans who go to Storm games with Save Our Sonics signs and T. Shirts in desperation to get there NBA team back all the while still supporting the Storm.

So for me I say THANK YOU Seattle Storm for keeping pro basketball alive and well in Seattle Carrying the torch so gracefully. You play with excellence, great passion and with tons of excitement. We thank you for holding it down until your brothers in basketball the SuperSonics get back. Hopefully soon we will have two professional winning basketball teams instead of just one! But until our Sonics are back in town I have NO problem supporting and rooting for the Storm. So be happy to know until  the Sonics come back there's still great professional basketball being played in Seattle in the form of the Seattle Storm!

A Glutton for Punishment; My Journey as a Life Long Seattle Sports Fan

Joey gets it.

   A couple years ago, ESPN Page 2 published an article on "Most Tortured Sports Fanbases" and listed Seattle as #1 on the list. The 2000's have not been kind to us in general. The Huskies fired Rick Neuhiesel and fell off the face of the planet culminating in the only Pac-10 team to not win a game with an 0-12 record. We watched Griffey, A-rod, and Randy Johnson leave the Mariners, who promptly set a record for regular season wins and then lost in the ALCS. The once proud and dominant Supersonics fell off the cliff into mediocrity and then left town right as they were starting to turn it around again. The Seahawks under-performed time and time again until finally reaching the pinnacle of NFL success only to have the rug pulled out from under them and a plethora of yellow hankies shoved down their throats.  That's just the last decade or so. Sure, we haven't suffered the World Series drought that the Cubs have, or our NFL team wasn't as inept as the Cardinals or the Lions, but over all, across the board, it is more difficult to be a Seattle Sports Fan (and to defend that fandom to others) than any other professional sports city in the USA.

   I was born in Puyallup Washington October of 1980. 1 year removed from the first and only major sports championship in Seattle since the 1917 Stanley Cup (sorry WNBA fans, you don't really count). I obviously didn't know it yet but I was beginning a life fraught with heart break and disappointment in the teams that are my birthright. By the time I was 10yrs old living in Moses Lake Washington, I was a die hard Ken Griffey Jr disciple (I shed real tears when he left, and then again when he was re-signed in 2008). As a fellow lefty and Center Fielder by trade it was only natural. It didn't hurt that Griffey was the biggest star in the game either of course. Football in those days was an after thought, I knew the Seahawks were bad, I heard my dad cussing at Dave Krieg every Sunday, but baseball was my true love at the time. I do have memories playing catch in the yard with my brothers where one of us was Krieg and the other was Brian Blades or Steve Largent, but that's really about it. Baseball was king in Moses Lake and therefore it was king of my life. The Mariners weren't on TV every night like they are now, so I remember talking to my friend every morning at school who just happened to be a walking talking baseball almanac (he could tell you Walter Johnsons ERA from 1930 if you asked him) and every day he would tell me how far in last place the Mariners were. It took until 1991 15 seasons in the league before the Mariners broke .500 with an 83-79 record under new Manager Lou Pinella.

  Fast forward to 1995, I was back living in Puyallup watching every game every night, Sonics, Seahawks, and Mariners with my grand parents. I remember the joy I felt watching Griffey, and A-rod. Edgar and Bone. Don't forget "Little" Joey Cora at 2nd base. The "Refuse to Lose" mantra and a golden age of Seattle Baseball. It didn't hurt that the Sonics were the best team in the NBA while Jordan was striking out in the White Sox farm system either, but of course they couldn't capitalize on that and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs in both 94 and 95. Then this happend: (if you don't tear up you're not a real Seattle fan)

   Aside from the 2005 NFCCG, this is probably the greatest moment in Seattle sports history. I get chills and tear up listening to the call by Dave Niehaus (RIP Dave) to this day. Remember when baseball fans in Seattle were just as loud as the football fans? I love the CLink and Safeco but sometimes I really miss the Kingdome days.

   In 1996 the Sonics finally broke though, handily defeating all comers. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp ruled the city. A rookie 6th man of the year named Kobe Bryant got knocked out of the playoffs as Seattle was on a collision course with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Championship.  Unfortunately the greatest to ever play the game had decided to give up his dream of playing in the MLB and returned to his domination of the NBA, and the Sonics in 6 games. Basketball has always been 3rd at best on my list, but I guess I'm overly emotional because I get misty eyed every time I watch a Payton and Kemp highlight reel, or think about Big Smooth Sam Perkins "stroking it for 3". Yeah, I know, that sounded dirty, but blame Kevin Calabro.

   Through the 90's the Mariners remained my #1 Seattle sports team, but in May of 2000 I joined the Navy,  and football took over my life. In the Navy you're either playing Madden against your friends after work, or you're talking crap about how bad every team in the NFL is except for yours. As a Seahawks fan, I had a lot of ground to make up. It didn't help that one of my best friends was not only a Raiders fan, but also a Duck. Luckily I was always able to get my team when we played Madden, and we had super quick Ahman Green, and then Shaun Alexander to bully people off the sticks with. I used to tear people apart with a heavy dose of Shaun Alexander and bombs to Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson. I was nearly unbeatable. Then February made me bitter, with every paper I got delivered, bad news on my doorstep, I couldn't take one more step. Super Bowl XL. The game that will forever live in infamy. I remember sitting at home alone watching the game. No big party, I was the lone Seahawks fan among my peers anyway, so to hell with them. This was our day, our shot, we were the best team in the NFL, but it wasn't to be. Yellow flags, and dropped passes derailed the #1 offense in the NFL. Shaun Alexander was a non-factor, and one of the biggest douche bags in the NFL walked away with an MVP trophy.

   After the debacle that was SBXL we watched our Seahawks steadily decline. NFL MVP Shaun Alexander signed a huge deal and fell on his face and was out of the NFL in 2 years. Steve Hutchinson skipped bail and ran to Minnesota. Matt Hasslebeck suffered and struggled through injuries and a GM that wouldn't know an O-line if Walter Jones was sleeping with his daughter. Back to mediocrity. Mike Holmgren left, to be replaced by a one year 4 win season by Jim Mora which lead to his firing and the firing of the incompetent GM that gave him the job in the first place.

   We watched the Mariners go from winning 116 games in 2001 to losing 100+ games every other year. An ownership group that seems more interested in the bottom line and "feel good" stories than winning baseball games has run the franchise into the ground for the most part.

   The once great and proud Seattle Supersonics were sold by local owner Howard Schultz to a group from Oklahoma City that with the help of NBA Commissioner David Stern tried to hold the city and state hostage  in order to publicly fund a $500M arena or they would leave town. I feel sorry for Kevin Durrant that he has to play in Oklahoma City now.

  I see a light at the end of the long dark tunnel though. The Mariners have a young core of position players and pitching prospects that if they can put it all together could form a potent lineup and rotation. Dustin Ackley is a bonafide star to go with arguably the best pitcher in the game Felix Hernandez. The Seahawks under Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider have shown signs of life, back to back 7-9 seasons isn't great but the style of play and the youth and talent on the roster is a 180 degree shift from where we were 2 years ago. Add to that the announcement recently that Seattle is looking to build a new multi-purpose arena in the area south of Safeco Field with the intention of luring both an NBA and an NHL franchise to the city before they commit to breaking ground on the new building, which will be mostly privately funded. This doesn't even mention the fact that the Seattle Storm of the WNBA are relevant nationally every year with a shot to go to the Finals behind Sue Bird and Loren Jackson, and the Seattle Sounders FC of MLS has been a playoff team every year that they've been around.

  So, yes its been tough over the years to be a fan of Seattle sports teams. I agree with ESPN, Seattle is the most tortured sports city in the nation. All signs, however are pointing to a brighter future in the Emerald City. Stay the course young men and women. The best is yet to come.

Seattle SuperSonics and New NHL team writers wanted

Note: I know there is still some work to do but there is a strong possibility that both the SuperSonics and an NHL team could be in Seattle very soon. I just thought I would throw out the following announcement to get ahead of the game:

Are you a passionate Seattle Sports Fan who is excited about the return of the SuperSonics and an NHL coming to Seattle? Have you always wanted to write about your favorite Seattle Sports teams?   Then come write  about the SuperSonics and the new NHL team for us at The Seattle Sports Hub.
  Also if you want to cover any other Seattle Sports teams, in addition to the above teams, read the following:

  Interested applicants should and need to e-mail me, Taylor Gombos at taylor_gombos@yahoo.com with your name and previous writing experience. Previous writing\blogging experience is not required but it is preferred. Must be 19 or older to apply. The requirement is one article per week but I also encourage anyone who writes for this site to contribute more than one article. Another requirement is dedication, I want you to be dedicated to the site and fulfill the one article a week requirement. If for some reason one week you can't write an article, you need to let me know ASAP. Trust me I realize we all have lives outside of the internet and this website so if there is a week you can't go, you can't go. The biggest thing I can stress here is I want passionate and dedicated writers who are willing to contribute regularly. We have a great group of writers right now but we could always use more. It's like I always say the more the merrier.
  Final point with all that said, due to my standing as a college student, I don't have the luxury to pay anyone who comes to write for us, just getting that out there up front. One thing I can promise is exposure through twitter and Facebook. I look forward to hearing from any one interested  soon,

Taylor Gombos
The Seattle Sports Hub Owner

Introducing Seattle Sports Hub Guest posting

Readers of The Seattle Sports Hub,

First off, I would like to thank all of you for your support and continued support of our site, it means a lot to not only me but to our awesome writing staff.

  Secondly, I would like to publicly thank all our great writers for their fantastic work and the great insight on the site. A personal thank you and big shout out to   Christina Schell, Spencer Vail, David Hodgson, Eugene Kiss Stuart Court Oleg Ileev Dan Viens, and Lynette Baker.

  Thirdly, I would like to introduce a concept that was brought up  to me by our first guest poster Sandra, and that is the concept of guest posting on this blog. What that will mean is that we at The Seattle Sports Hub will start accepting guest posts\articles from those who are interested in submitting them. The criteria for any blog post\articles that guests submit must have the following: 1. They don't necessarily need to be Seattle Sports based, yes I know that this site is and always will be centered around Seattle Sports but for guest posts I am willing to make an exception to that, however I do prefer to have the guest post to be about Seattle Sports. What I'm saying is you won't be disqualified from having your post on our site if it's not Seattle Sports centered, that is just a preference from me. 2. All articles submitted will be subject to editing by me. You can submit guest articles to taylor_gombos@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Taylor Gombos
The Seattle Sports Hub Owner

Guest Post: Five Great Places to Watch Seattle Sports in Seattle

Note: The following post was submitted as a guest post by  Sandra Evans

   There’s nothing like watching your team steam roll over their opponent while in the company of good friends and passionate fans, so why are you watching the game all alone from your living room couch? If you can’t get a ticket to the game, do the next best thing; go to your neighborhood sports bar.

Not sure which bars are best for watching Seattle sports? No problem! Below is a short list of the better spots in the Seattle area, where you’ll never have to ask them to turn the game on.

            Sport Restaurant and Bar: Located on 4^th Avenue North (across from the Space Needle), Sport is a great place to get in a good meal while you watch the game. There is also an extended Happy Hour on Friday and  Saturday from 10 PM to 1 AM. But perhaps the best thing about this bar is that it has 39 televisions, so you’ll never have to worry about not being able to see the game.

  Auto Battery Sports Bar: Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this bar has been called the “best sports bar in the neighborhood.” This is a great place to hang during and after the game, because in addition to the sports bar with ten televisions, they also have a full menu, coffee, shuffleboard tables, pool tables and pinball, Nintendo Wii and free Wi-Fi.

      Buckley’s On Queen Anne: Located on 1^st Avenue West in the historic Duke apartment building, Buckley’s has great food and is kid-friendly, and if there is a Seattle sports team playing, you can bet it will be on one of the bar’s big screen televisions.

 Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant: Located on 1^st Avenue, this is the bar to go to watch a Seattle Sounders game (or any other soccer game). Fado also has amazing Irish food, regularly scheduled live music and special events.

          The Hawks Nest Bar and Grill: Looking for “the place” to watch a Seattle Seahawks game? The Hawks Nest says they are it. Also on 1^st Avenue, this bar features a Seahawks Game Day Brunch that is pretty delicious. And although this bar is named after the city’s football team, they are also proud supporters of the Mariners and the Sounders.

Sandra Evans owns the website Sports Management Degrees. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing tennis and writing.

Seattle Seahawks: What can we expect next season?

Football season is officially over folks but that doesn’t mean we should stop talking about it. While looking back let’s envision the possibilities of the future for our beloved franchise. 2011 NFL season for Seattle Seahawks has certainly been a season of progress especially on defensive side of the ball but yet it felt disappointing. It felt disappointing not just because Seahawks did not reach the playoffs but because as a fan I am not sure of what to expect from this team heading into upcoming season. At times Seahawks looked like a promising team moving into a right direction. However on the other hand in certain games Seahawks looked convincingly poor and underachieving (game against Cleveland Browns comes to mind). So what should we expect as Seahawks fans next year? Well, I believe it all depends on what the Seahawks will do in the off season

   The question I have for Seattle front office is what are you going to do at quarterback position? The reason why is because if you look at today’s NFL, you can’t win many games without a good solid quarterback. To be honest with you all, I do not believe the Seahawks currently have a good solid quarterback on their roster with no disrespect to Tarvaris Jackson. If you look at better teams in the NFL you see the franchise caliber quarterback on their roster. In Seattle case, you don’t and that’s what makes it so hard to even consider Seattle in playoff picture next season. 

   So what should Seattle do about their QB position? Well, in upcoming NFL draft we know for sure that there are talented quarterbacks and their names are Andrew Luck and RGIII.

  What about others you ask, well I am simply not sure about others. I strongly believe that Luck and RGIII will eventually become good if not great QB’s in the NFL. I do not have the same feeling about Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins or Nick Foles and I bet I am not the only one. Before Seahawks even consider drafting one of these quarterbacks, they have to know to some degree of confidence that one of these guys is the one who can lead this team to success. Personally, I like Kirk Cousins the most of out the bunch but I am not in charge of making the decision on the draft day. The reason why I like Cousins the most is because he reminds me of Matt Hasselbeck who did lead the team to a Super Bowl. But to be truly effective on offense, Seahawks need more than just a quarterback.

   Golden Tate also is another guy who needs to step up if he wants to keep playing. Golden did play better towards the end of the season, what he needs to do though is become a better route runner and be more consistent. If he can play all games to the level he played against Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night football then he should be fine.

  What Seattle needs to do is find a good running mate to Lynch because quite frankly I do not believe Forsett or Washington are the answer. Neither is capable of providing five and six yards runs when Lynch is not playing. Seahawks need someone similar to Tate from Texans to help the offense in the ground game. If Seahawks truly want to be a good rushing team they need to add another back who is capable of providing big runs on consistent basis. Seattle Seahawks also need to get more out of their receiving corps. Mike Williams needs to have a rebound year in order for this team to have success passing the ball similar to the one he had in 2010. However Williams is not the only wide receiver who needs to step up in 2012.

  Another guy I need to see more of is Sidney Rice. The number priority for Rice should be staying healthy. If he can stay healthy for the whole season, he could be the dynamic play maker for the Seahawks. He could be a true number one wide receiver for the team but it all goes back to staying healthy. As a fan I sure hope he can do so, because the Seahawks with Rice are a better team than without him.

  Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell also need to find more ways to utilize their tight ends in the passing game, especially Zach Miller. They got to feed them the ball otherwise the offensive will never be as good as it can be. We all know that Pete Carroll wants to run the ball effectively, well to do that you need a good passing game. By utilizing tight ends more effectively Seahawks can truly become one of the better offenses in the league.

  If Seahawks can do all the things I mentioned then they could truly become a great team. However as of right now, I am not sure of what to expect from this team next season. The difference between success and failure could just be a few moves in the free agency or the draft. But at the moment I cannot even predict of what is going to happen next season. With the right moves, it can even end in confetti.

NFL, Stay out of London

   This is a Seattle Sports centered blog, I know that. I feel though that I need to get up on a soap box for a couple minutes and speak about something that affects the entire NFL, including the Seattle Seahawks. Games in London, England. My viewpoint might not be popular with the handful of Seahawks fans or NFL fans in general that live across the pond, but seriously, NFL Stay Out of London! At least during the regular season.

He'll make you an offer you can't refuse

   The St. Louis Rams made headlines a couple weeks ago when it was announced that they would be forfeiting home games at the Edwards Jones Dome in order to play the Patriots in London in 2012-2014.  Stadium officials spoke out against this and I believe have even moved to take the NFL to court over these proposed games due to the fact that they violate the lease agreement that the team has with the stadium. I hope they win. Think about it for a minute 12th man. How would you feel if the NFL took away one of OUR home games so we could go play some media darling team in London? In the Paciffic NW we're already the most traveled team in the league every year, and then you take away a home game to move us as far away as possible to play a game? If I had season tickets I would be livid. Almost Molotov cocktails outside of league headquarters in NYC livid, and I don't think I'm alone among NFL fans.

   It is an insult to the fans of the Rams to move their game across the pond. The NFL is basically saying that they don't care about the St. Louis media market. They found a team this season that they felt not enough people cared about and decided that was their target. Hell, the Rams might be back in LA in 3yrs anyway right? These games are plain and simple, a cash grab. They're putting on a show for a bunch of fans that are there for the same reason American's go to the demolition derby, the spectacle. I would have to say that better than 95% of attendees to the game in London won't be there because they like NFL Football. They'll be there because its different. Its not futbol and its not rugby, so hell why not go watch the over sized Yanks beat on each other for a couple hours.

   NFL Europe failed for a reason. There might have been some good fan bases there but the game wasn't economically viable over there.  Nobody in the USA watched the games. That meant that there was no advertising money coming in from the broadcasts and therefore no money to be made. The NFL folded it of their own volition. One or two good stories came out of NFL Europe, but for the most part it was a gigantic flop and a failure. Now Roger Goodell in his "infinite wisdom" wants to try and move back there? There isn't even a team in LA right now Roger! How can you talk about having an NFL team in London, England when you don't even have one in Los Angeles, California?

   It does make sense though that out of all the teams that they could have chosen to steal a home game from that they chose the Rams. Their new majority owner Stan Kroenke is also a major shareholder in English Premier Club Arsenal. Hey Stan, how bout you give up Arsenal's home match against Manchester United and come play it in St. Louis? How do you think the soccer hooligans that love Arsenal would react to that? I bet buildings would be burnt down and you wouldn't ever be able to walk the streets without an armed escort for the rest of your life. That's the same way I feel about the NFL playing games in London.

   Manchester United comes and plays friendlies against American Major League Soccer clubs, but that's different. Those are exhibition matches that generate a large amount of income for the home clubs. Win or lose they mean nothing for either team. With only 16 games on the schedule, every home game is important for every team in the NFL. Moving two NFL teams away from their fan bases and television markets not to mention stealing one of those all important home games makes no sense at all to me.

   Don't get me wrong, there are some good and very knowledgeable NFL fans, and Seahawks fans in particular that call England home. For the most part though, the average Brittish citizen is ambivalent at best about American Football. This is OUR game. It is at its most profitable and most loved in the United States. Just like there might be a ton of English Premier League fans living throughout the USA, the EPL would NEVER move a home match for one of its clubs to The States, so should the NFL not move regular season home games to England. Luckily for Seahawks fans, I would hope we have ownership that sees the folly of this venture and opts to stay away from London, even if its not a home game.

   Moving NFL home games to London is a mistake. I hope the Edward Jones Dome group win out and force the NFL to try and move another team over there, then that stadium group stands up and does the same thing. Force Goodell to abandon this stupid and pointless practice. It was nice for the pre-season, it might work for the Super Bowl, but NFL, keep the regular season games where they belong, AT HOME.

SHE'S BACK!

Ok all you my fellow Seattle Storm fans we can breath now & give a sigh of relief awwww because Sue Bird is BACK!!!

 The Storm announced Thursday that they have re signed Sue Bird to a multi yr contract details here. http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/birdwright120209.html

It had been highly speculated that Bird was considering leaving Seattle to sign with her best friend Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury, but that now has been put to rest. Thank GOD! In  fact Sue Bird was quoted saying Phoenix or any other team contacted her about playing for their team. Sue Bird went on to say JOKINGLY she's the most unwanted PG in the WNBA lol I'm sorry but I find both those statement's hard to believe. Why? because Sue Bird is the best PG in the WNBA and WNBA general managers would be silly not go after her.

  Bird also said she had NO intentions of signing with the Phoenix Mercury and would like to retire with the Storm. So we Seattle Storm fans can breath a little easier now knowing  Bird is back to stay, well at least for now. I think Storm fans only have to really worry about Sue leaving to play for one team and that's the New York Liberty. Sue is from New York all her friends and family live in the Big Apple so she may want to play in front of friends and family before she calls it quits. I say that's the only franchise that Seattle should be threatened by & that Sue would leave Seattle for. I guess for the time being let's just be happy that she will remain with the Storm for a little while longer.. So as a Storm fan i say WELCOME BACK SUE .

  Now go win the city of Seattle another championship lol. Seattle Storm also resigned Tanisha Wright who was an unrestricted free agent  to a contract extension.  Wright has played for the Storm since being drafted back in 2005 which is her entire career and is happy to to be back with the Storm.. Seattle has also signed Ann Wauters to a free agent contract.  Ann Wauters is suppose to fill the void for MVP Lauren Jackson(good luck with that) while Lauren Trains for the Summer Olympics details here: http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/wauters120206.html.

  I'm a little suspect about this signing.  Wauters is a great player (lets face there's nobody that can fill the void of Lauren Jackson) but I still have some reservations about her! My main one is Ann hasn't played in the WNBA since 2009. How will she hold up through out the season on those back to back game nights. How will she compete against the other elite Centers in the WNBA? Players like Tina Charles or Sylvia Fowles? As great as Lauren Jackson is she struggles against those two players so I'm very interested to see how Ann will do.

  I give the Seattle Storm credit though because like I stated it's pretty much impossible to find a worthy replacement for Lauren Jackson so at least they are making a effort to do something. Hey and maybe I'm wrong(which i hope) and Ann Wauters does a great job in filling for Lauren Jackson and dominates for the Storm and helps them win another championship. The anticipation is growing for Storm fans. Seattle Storm season is coming up very soon. Season starts May 18 vs The very talented and skilled Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks. Rivals! Stay tuned. i will keep you up to date on all there is to know about the Seattle Storm leading up to the season. So far Storm are making productive moves especially re signing Sue Bird. But still a lot of voids to feel for the Storm so stay tuned to See what our TWO TIME champions will do next to become THREE TIME champions. Intrigue! Seattle Storm is the most successful team in Seattle! Salute!

The State Of WSU Basketball: 2012

You can’t win in Pullman. 

That’s what they say right?  “They” being……. Well, just about everyone.  Rival coaches and fans say it, of course, but hell,  I’m a Coug and if I had a dollar for every time I’ve thought it myself,  I could Phil-Knight them a new arena, metallic uniforms and locker rooms filled with flat screens.  

You’ve heard is all before….. 

The Beauty Of The Palouse

“It’s too remote.” 

“The facilities aren’t good enough.” 

“You can’t pay coaches enough.” 

“It’s TOO REMOTE!” 

Sure, there have been stretches of success.  Brief, rare, glorious stretches.  But those have historically been followed by the departure of whichever coach it was who achieved it.  George Raveling, Kelvin Sampson, and Tony Bennett all moved on after doing their best work on the Palouse.   

We all know that this is a different time.  The new Pac-12 and it’s corresponding TV deal have changed the game.  WSU can now hire the Mike Leach’s of the world, supply them with an upgraded infrastructure, and pay them enough to keep them in town once other programs come calling.   

Bone is 51-39 at WSU

So, what does that mean for head coach Ken Bone?  He was hired by a previous Athletic Director under the previous TV deal, leading to speculation that the heat has been turned up and the clock is ticking louder than ever if he doesn’t win.  He was listed by espn.com earlier this year as a coach on the proverbial Hot Seat. But he signed a 7-year contract in 2009, and Bill Moos has shown a propensity to be patient with his hoops coaches.  And besides, what does ESPN know anyway, right? 

So, in his third year on the job, how’s Bone doing?  And, how does the future of the program look?  

A lot better today then it did a year ago.   

When Klay Thompson declared early for the NBA after his junior year last spring, it looked like he was bailing from a sinking ship.  The only quality post player on the roster, DeAngelo Casto, bolted for an overseas payday, point guard Reggie Moore had regressed, promising youngsters Xavier Thames and James Watson left the program, and the incoming recruiting class ended up including only one true freshman.   

Brock Motum

But I’m here to tell you, the future looks bright.  

As I write this, the Cougs are 13-11 overall and 5-7 in Pac-12 play after an impressive road win over Oregon State last night.  Moore is playing to his potential again, guard DaVonte Lacy is an All-Freshman team candidate, and Brock Motum might be playing better than anyone in the conference.  Against the Beavers last night, JC transfer DJ Shelton played his best game of the year, chipping in 14 points and 9 boards in 24 minutes.  Shelton is raw, but he’s 6’ 10” and uber-athletic.   Fresno State transfer Mike Ladd has battled injuries, but he and redshirt frosh Dexter Kernich-Drew (another Aussie import) look like the kind of long, athletic wing players Bone likes to build his offense around. 

Suddenly, it looks like there’s a solid core developing here.  This won’t be a tournament team, but when they play well they can compete with anyone in the league, and the best is yet to come.  

Richard Peters

Next year’s recruiting class is solid, and features a couple of kids who should make immediate, and significant contributions.  Richard Peters is a skilled 6’ 10” post player from Arizona who chose WSU over Washington, Seton Hall, and a handful of SEC schools.  Demarquise Johnson is his teammate at Westwind Charter Academy, and will be his teammate in Pullman.  He’s a 3-star, 6’ 5” wing who can spot up from 3 and slash to the basket.  Filling out the class are 6’ 7” Spokane sharp-shooter Brett Boese and Richard Longrus, a northern California wing player who does his best work on the defensive end.  

Royce Woolridge

Also joining the fray is Royce Woolridge, son of ex-NBA standout Orlando Woolridge.  He’ll be eligible to play in 2012-13 after transferring from Kansas where he earned playing time as a true freshman.  He’s a combo guard who can play the point or shooting guard.   

You can see the pieces coming together.  This looked like the proverbial doughnut team to start the season, with a huge hold in the middle.  But Motum’s transformation from skinny wing to hard-nosed, talented post player has him looking like an All Pac-12 selection, and he’s only a junior.  Shelton’s development gives them two 6’ 10” guys to build around.  Add Peters to that mix and the ever-growing group of versatile guards and wings Bone is assembling, and the pieces could be in place to run his offense the way he envisions.   

Bone wasn’t a sexy hire when he arrived three years ago, but he seemed like a good fit.  He built a solid resume as both coach and recruiter, all of it in the Northwest, and he talked of this job being a destination for him, not a stepping stone.  If he won there, as he vowed to do, he would stay.   

With a growing and intriguing talent base, and in a Pac-12 where there are no dominant programs to speak of right now, it would appear he is poised to begin fulfilling that promise.